Reach Unlimited breaks ground for new center

Steve Love

Published
6:00 pm CST, Tuesday, January 27, 2004

The facility, to be located at 11832 Mueller Cemetery Road, will be built in two phases, the first of which will provide individualized training and community job placement, as well as educational, cultural and recreational activities for up to 200 adults daily.

Kathi Schmidt, executive director of Reach Unlimited, said the community is desperate for a center like this.

"The need is tremendous in this northwest area," she said. "The Cy-Fair area is growing by leaps and bounds, and there are very few programs for adults with mental retardation."

The construction process is expected to take six to nine months to complete and Phase 1 of the Learning/Activity Center is scheduled to open its doors to the public at the end of the year.

Schmidt said this project has been in development for the last three and a half years, so seeing it actually materializing is exciting.

"Breaking ground is a dream come true for our clients, most of all, families in the community and volunteers," she said. "We have been fund raising in difficult economic circumstances. With 75 percent of the funds raised for Phase 1, we felt it was time to get started."

The turning point for the project came earlier this year when Reach Unlimited's Board of Directors approved a plan to build the center in two phases, Schmidt said. It's estimated that Phase 1 will cost more than $1.7 million. So far, more than $1.3 million has been raised with help from local foundations, businesses and individuals from the community.

Phase 1 of the Learning/Activity Center will be a 16,384 square-foot, one story building with ten classrooms, a music/exercise room, an arts and crafts room and a computer lab. A large enterprise room, a life skills room, an infirmary and staff offices are also included.

Once funds become available, Phase 2 will add a commercial-size kitchen and dining area designed for vocational training, a large multi-purpose room and administrative offices. Future plans also include the addition of jogging trails, a covered pavilion and an outdoor recreational area.

Reach Unlimited, founded in 1983, operates eight group homes, one apartment program and a supported employment program for adults with mental retardation. A short ceremony will be held at the ground breaking on Jan. 29 at 3 p.m.

They would still love to see donations come in to help build the center. For more information about Reach Unlimited or to make a donation, call 281-469-8058.